Baby massage is as the name suggests a massage for babies. There are numerous benefits to using baby massage these include:

  • Relieving colic – for the lucky few who don’t know what colic is see colic – every parent’s nightmare in this case the benefits include relaxing the child and it can also dislodge the trapped wind.
  • Acting as a bonding aid – the reason for this is it is an activity that enables one to one interaction between you and your baby. It can also build trust as your baby learns that touching in certain situations is OK (obviously I am not saying that touching as part of sexual abuse is OK) and they learn that you are not going to hurt them.
  • Can help with constipation – this is because the strokes used on the abdomen are clockwise (which is the direction the gut moves) which can aid peristalsis (contractions of the gut – which move the faeces along the digestive tract).

If you want to try baby massage:

  • Find a time of day when your child isn’t tired, hungry etc.
  • Get a towel and an oil ready – you can use baby oil or any oil that you would use for cooking I personally use olive oil.
  • In a room which isn’t too hot or too cold remove the child’s clothes, it’s up to you whether you leave the nappy on or take it off
  • Lie the child on the towel then add a small amount (approx 1 tsp) of oil to your hand then rub your hands together – the purpose of the oil is to reduce the friction.
  • Depending on the reason you are using baby massage will depend which of the following techniques you use:

    • For Colic

    • If your child is lying on their back – starting just below the rib cage move your hand in large clockwise circles over the abdomen – repeat as desired
    • Then starting at the belly button use 2 fingers and move in clockwise circles working out -repeat as desired
    • Then start at the base of the rib cage move your hand across the chest to the opposite shoulder then repeat to the other side – repeat as desired
    • If the child is lying on their front start at the base of the rib cage move your hand across the back to the opposite shoulder then repeat to the other side – repeat as desired

    For Constipation

    • If your child is lying on their back – starting just below the rib cage move your hand in large clockwise circles over the abdomen – repeat as desired
    • Then starting at the belly button use 2 fingers and move in clockwise circles working out -repeat as desired

    For a general massage

    • If your child is lying on their back – starting just below the rib cage move your hand in large clockwise circles over the abdomen – repeat as desired
    • Then starting at the belly button use 2 fingers and move in clockwise circles working out -repeat as desired
    • Then start at the base of the rib cage move your hand across the chest to the opposite shoulder then repeat to the other side – repeat as desired
    • If the child is lying on their front start at the base of the rib cage move your hand across the back to the opposite shoulder then repeat to the other side – repeat as desired
    • To massage the arms cup your child’s upper arm just below the shoulder gently move your hand around the arm continue down the arm until you reach the wrist. It works best if do both arms at the same time.
    • To massage the legs repeat the same technique as the arms starting from the hip down to the ankles

    If at any point during a massage your child is showing signs of not enjoying it STOP. If you attempt to continue your child will associate the discomfort with the massage which is something you want to avoid. From personal experience with baby massage I have found that it is best to be consistent so for each body part use the same number of strokes I usually work in groups of 5. Also it may be of interest to you that you don’t have to stop massages when your child becomes a toddler my daughter is now nearly 2 and still enjoys having a massage, I started from when my daughter was 6 weeks old but there is no reason why you can’t start from birth.